As we soon head into spring, you may be looking for new places to meet. Whether you are a professional advisor looking for a community-centric place to meet with clients, a nonprofit employee touching base with a donor, or you simply want to get out of the house as the weather turns, consider supporting independent and diverse businesses. These Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) owned coffee shops and eateries are great for morning and midday meetings.

Cuppa Java

400 Penn Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405-2059

In need of a breakfast sandwich and espresso, head to Cuppa Java in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis. Cuppa Java is LGBTQIA+ owned, serving up breakfast, lunch, coffee and drinks. It offers limited indoor seating and nice outdoor seating for warmer seasons.

Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe

934 Selby Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104

Interested in sitting down for a good cup of coffee or a southern-style breakfast? If so, visit Golden Thyme in Saint Paul. This café is a Rondo institution, serving the area for more than 20 years. It offers ample seating and even a reserved room for larger group meetings.

Flava Coffee & Cafe

623 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN 55102

This coffee shop is a new addition to University Avenue in Saint Paul. Founded by Shaunie Grigsby, a youth development practitioner, mentor and social entrepreneur, Flava offers tasty coffee drinks and pastries, with a side of community impact. With this business, Shaunie has established a supportive environment that promotes high-quality results for young women of color and gender-expansive youth.

Pow Wow Grounds

1414 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Pow Wow Grounds has been serving the Indigenous community and more in South Minneapolis since 2010. Located on Franklin Avenue, it serves up breakfast and lunch utilizing some American Indian stand outs such as blueberry wild rice muffins and fry bread tacos.

The Coffee Shop Northeast

2852 Johnson Street Northeast, Northeast Minneapolis, MN 55418

This coffee shop has been a staple in Northeast Minneapolis’ Audubon Neighborhood for nearly 13 years. There you can enjoy hot or cold coffee, signature drinks and smoothies. If you’re in the mood for something more filling, try out their eggel, an egg and cheese bagel, or one of their many other breakfast and lunch items.

The Dripping Root

4002 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55406

This South Minneapolis juice bar aims to bridge the gap between health and culture by introducing the community to handcrafted juices and delicious smoothie bowls. Open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., one of its standout juices is the Nipsey Drip, named after the late entrepreneur and rapper, Nipsey Hussle. The Dripping Root is a Black woman-owned business founded by Catiesha Pierson, with intimate seating and a relaxed atmosphere.

The Get Down Coffee Co.

1500 North 44th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55412

The Get Down Coffee Co. is more than just a shop; its goal is to bring specialty coffee to the community, specifically North Minneapolis. This spot offers specialty drinks, pastries, apparel and coffee beans roasted in-house. One of its co-founders also happens to be one of the area’s well-known designers, Houston White.

Mojo Monkey Donuts

1169 7th Street West, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Right off Seventh Street West, sits Mojo Monkey Donuts. Started by Lisa Clark, it serves up flavorful donuts made with quality ingredients. Types of donuts include cake, fritters, raised and crullers to name a few. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a $1 cup of coffee.

Muffin Top Cafe

1424 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Looking to enjoy a cup of coffee and live acoustic music? Head to Muffin Top Cafe. This spot near downtown Minneapolis offers quiche, sandwiches, soup and pastries along with specialty coffee drinks and tea.

The Nicollet Diner

1333 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Started by Sam and Dion Turner, downtown Minneapolis’ Nicollet Diner serves everything from breakfast to a full bar and late-night treats (like malts). If you're looking for a hand-crafted coffee or espresso, it offers that too, courtesy of one of its partners Muffin Top Cafe.

These are just a few of the places you can take your clients. Read Lunch with a Purpose to see some of the other places we have mentioned.